Tapping and dispensing device for fluid filled containers

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a fluid container adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in a liquid-tight relation, the container having a wall with an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion which is larger in area than the opening and sealing the opening prior to the insulation of the dispensing means, and a series of flaps integral with the wall surrounding the periphery of the opening and adapted to be deflected by the dispensing means to permit entry of the dispensing means into the container and returned to their initial position in sealing engagement with the dispensing means.

United States Patent 1191 I Mills 1 lMarch 13, 1973 154] TAPPING AND DISPENSING DEVICE 3,184,117 5/1965 Sanderson ..222 1s3 FOR FLUID FILLED CONTAINERS 2,052,445 8/1936 Burns ..222/90 3 392,878 7 1968 J k ..22] 305 [76] Inventor: Archie w. Mills, 2941 5. Michigan I 60616 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1969 7 Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr [2]] App]. No; 888,334 Att0rneyl'lill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..222/569 51 1111.01. ..B65d 5/74 Pm"des a fluld comm adapted [58] Field of Search ..222/568-570 90 easily and detachably a dispensing means a 222/91 183; 285/5 F; 239/272; liquid-tight relation, the container having a wall with 221/305 an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion. which is larger in area than the opening and sealing [56 Ref re Cited the opening prior to the insulation of the dispensing means, and a series of flaps integral with thewall sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS rounding the periphery of the opening and adapted to 619,712 2/1899 Bartliff ..222/568 be deflected by the dispensing means Permit. entry 1,485,579 3/1924 Wyatt ..222/90 f the dispensing means into the container and 1,904,409 4/1933 Church ....285/5 F returned to their initial position in sealing engagement 1,911,076 5/1933 Gandola ..222/90 with the dispensing means. 2,925,199 2/1960 Brookshier... ...222/l83 X 2,981,443 4/1961 Baldwin ..222/183 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAR 1 3191s inventor TAPPING AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR FLUID FILLED CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to containers for fluids, liquid and thelike. More particularly, the invention relates to a container adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in a liquid-tight relation.

There have been numerous devices for removing and dispensing liquids such as milk and the like from plastic lined paperboard containers and containers being plastic lined in which the contents such as milk or other fluid are contained. Some of the devices have spouts or spigots or means or devices already installed and sealed as a portion of the container to dispense or remove the fluid therefrom. There are others which utilize a piercing and tapping device for drawing off a fluid from within a plastic film container. With such device the container and plastic liner are torn with a sharp pointed device. By use of this device the container and/or plastic lining will have a tendency to tear at random along undetermined lines and for unknown lengths. Accordingly, the dispensing means or device, when installed and mounted in the container will not have, with any certainty, a liquid-tight seal with the container. This liquid-tight seal is necessary for the proper dispensing of the fluids from the container as well as for maintaining sanitation and health requirements.

It would therefore be a substantial advance in the art if a fluid container or carton were developed which is adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in a liquid-tight relationship to dispense a fluid therefrom in a convenient and sanitary manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, a new fluid container adapted vided whereby the dispensing means is mounted in a liquid-tight relationship with the container. The fluid container comprises a wall with an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion which is larger in area than the opening and which seals the opening prior to the installation of the dispensing means. A series of flaps is provided which are integral with the wall surrounding the periphery of the opening and which are adaptedto be deflected by the dispensing means to permit entry of the dispensing means into the container and returned to their initial position in a sealing engagement with the dispensing means. The dispensing means is a device comprising a'tubular body, an enlarged head at one end of the body, the diameter of the head being the same as the diameter of the opening at the base of the flaps, an externally threaded portion on part of the body extending from the head, the diameter of the threaded portion being the same as the diameter of the opening at the inward side of the flaps and a threaded locking nut engaged with the threaded portion of the body whereby such engagement holds the flaps inbetween the enlarged head and locking nut to secure the device in the container and to seal the open- It therefore is an object of this invention to provide a fluid container. designedto easily mount a dispensing device in a liquid-tight relation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid container adaptedto have a dispensing means mounted therein in a manner to fully satisfy any sanitation and health requirements for safeguarding public health.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa container illustrative of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a spigot that is to be inserted in the opening in the lower portion of the fluid container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the beginning of the installation of the spigot in the fluid container;

FIG. 4 illustrates the spigot-half-way inside the fluid container with the flaps fully extended inward;

FIG. 5 illustrates the enlarged head of the spigot inside the fluid container and the flaps returned to their initial position; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the locking nut in an advanced position for securing the spigot in the container and sealing the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a fluid container 8 embodying the present invention is shown. The container 8 has a front side or wall 20 which in the lower portion thereof is an opening 1. Overlying the opening 1 there is provided a retractable cover portion or flap 3 which is larger in area than the opening and seals the opening prior to installation of dispensing means, as described below. Surrounding the periphery of the opening 1 and integral with the wall are a series of flaps 2. The flaps are adapted to be deflected by the dispensing means to permit entry of such into the container and to be returned to their initial position in a sealing engagement with the dispensing means as illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6. The retractable portion 3 is constructed to securely protect the contents of the container before the time of dispensing them and to be removed by hand without the necessity of any special tools or devices.

FIG. 2 shows a dispensing means or a spigot 9 which is to be inserted and secured at one end in the container 8. The spigot 9 comprises a tubular body 13 having a passageway 14 extending longitudinally through it for the fluid or liquid in the container to pass through and out the opening 15 of the spigot cock 18. At one end of the tubular body 13 there is an enlarged round head 4 which is slightly tapered and terminates in a blunt, flat end 16. The largest dimension or diameter 11 of the head 4 is the same as the diameter 10 of the opening at the base of the flaps 2. Extending from the head 4 for a small portion of the tubular body 13 there is an external threaded portion 6 which has a diameter the same as the diameter 12 at the inward side of the flaps 2 of the opening 1. At one end of the threaded portion 6 there is engaged a threaded locking nut 7. The locking nut 7, when turned and moved forward along the threaded portion 6, and after the head 4 has been fully inserted into the container 8, holds the flaps 2 in sealing engagement with the head 4 and secures the spigot 9 in place in the container. When the spigot 9 is secured in place and the opening is sealed, the liquid may be withdrawn from the container 8 as desired by operating the spigot cock 18.

FIGS. 3 through6 illustrate stepwise the mounting of the spigot 9 in the container 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tapered head 4 makes initial contact with the flaps 2 as it is being inserted into opening 1 of the container 8. Then in FIG. 4, the head 4 is halfway into the container and the flaps 2 are fully deflected inwardly and in a horizontal position. And in FIG. 5, the enlarged head 4 is fully within the container 8 and the flaps are returned to their initial vertical position behind the back 5 of head 4 and are in contact with the threaded portion 6 of the tubular body 13.

In FIG. 6, after the head 4 has been fully inserted into the container 8, the locking nut 7 is turned and moved forward along the threaded portion 6 to hold the flaps 2 inbetween the head 4 and itself to seal the opening 1 and to secure the spigot at its enlarged head end in the container. The liquid in the container as indicated above can now be withdrawn as desired by operating the spigot cock 18.

During the installation of the spigot 9 in the manner described above, it is desirable that the container 8 be placed on its backside 22 opposite to the opening 1 so that the opening will be on top. When the spigot is installed and the opening 1 is sealed, then the container 8 can be set upright and the liquid withdrawn in whole or in part as desired.

Iclaim:

l. A fluid container adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in liquid-tight relation, said container having a wall which in the lower portion thereof is an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion which is larger in area than said opening and sealing said opening prior to installation of said dispensing means, and a series of uniform performed flaps integral with said wall surrounding the periphery of said opening adapted to be deflected by said dispensing means to permit entry of the dispensing means into the container and returned to their initial position in a liquid-sealing engagement with the dispensing means.

2. A fluid container according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is a spigot comprising a tubular body, an enlarged head at one end of the body, the diameter of said head being the same as the diameter of the opening at the base of the flaps, an external threaded portion on part of said body extending from said head, the diameter of said threaded portion being the same as the diameter of the opening at the inward side of the flaps, and a threaded locking nut engaged with the threaded portion of the body whereby such engagement holds the flaps inbetween the enlarged head and locking nut to secure the spigot in the container and to seal the opening.

3. A fluid container according to claim 2, wherein the enlarged head is slightly tapered and terminates in a blunt flat end. 

1. A fluid container adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in liquid-tight relation, said container having a wall which in the lower portion thereof is an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion which is larger in area than said opening and sealing said opening prior to installation of said dispensing means, and a series of uniform performed flaps integral with said wall surrounding the periphery of said opening adapted to be deflected by said dispensing means to permit entry of the dispensing means into the container and returned to their initial position in a liquid-sealing engagement with the dispensing means.
 1. A fluid container adapted to easily and detachably mount a dispensing means in liquid-tight relation, said container having a wall which in the lower portion thereof is an opening and an overlying retractable cover portion which is larger in area than said opening and sealing said opening prior to installation of said dispensing means, and a series of uniform performed flaps integral with said wall surrounding the periphery of said opening adapted to be deflected by said dispensing means to permit entry of the dispensing means into the container and returned to their initial position in a liquid-sealing engagement with the dispensing means.
 2. A fluid container according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is a spigot comprising a tubular body, an enlarged head at one end of the body, the diameter of said head being the same as the diameter of the opening at the base of the flaps, an external threaded portion on part of said body extending from said head, the diameter of said threaded portion being the same as the diameter of the opening at the inward side of the flaps, and a threaded locking nut engaged with the threaded portion of the body whereby such engagement holds the flaps inbetween the enlarged head and locking nut to secure the spigot in the container and to seal the opening. 